Biography Nils Eric (N. Eric) Oback

Everyone knew Nels Eric Oback as "Eric." Professionally, he usually signed his name "N. Eric Oback."

Eric was born on September 30, 1920 in Arvika, Sweden. The family name had been "Olson," which is as common as Smith or Jones in Scandinavia. Eric's father, Gus, legally changed their name to "Abach." In English, "Abach" translates phonetically to "Oback." The name was chosen as a remembrance of the family farm in Sweden, "Abachen," which roughly translates to "hill by the river 'Oh.'"

Eric immigrated to the United States with his parents, brother, and sister in 1927. The family settled in Chicago IL, where his father opened a successful automotive repair business. In 1942, at the start of World War II and at the age of 21, Eri
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